Electric Kettle to Extend Life of Microwave?

[disneysteve]

we don't use the cooktop burners and rarely fire up the oven

I'm curious how much cooking you do. We do quite a bit and I don't see how we could possibly accomplish that without the stove or oven.

[97guns]

I'm curious how much cooking you do. We do quite a bit and I don't see how we could possibly accomplish that without the stove or oven.

We cook every day, eat out maybe 1 or 2 times a week. I've actually been using nothing but plug in appliances for the past 25-30 years

[JBinKC]

Put the toaster oven in the garage and use it for baking when you don't want heat in the house then you will have room for a cheaper countertop microwave.

[disneysteve]

We cook every day, eat out maybe 1 or 2 times a week. I've actually been using nothing but plug in appliances for the past 25-30 years

We use our toaster oven a lot but it's size significantly limits what you can cook in there. We make pizza once a week (at least). That needs the oven. If we make soup or chili or meatballs or pasta or numerous other things, we need the stovetop. If we're preparing food for 3 (or even 2) we need the stovetop. And certainly if we have guests, we need the oven and stovetop. My wife makes fresh bread somewhat regularly. Can't do that in the toaster oven. Or bake cookies. Or roast vegetables.

What do you eat that doesn't require the stovetop or oven?

[97guns]

We use our toaster oven a lot but it's size significantly limits what you can cook in there. We make pizza once a week (at least). That needs the oven. If we make soup or chili or meatballs or pasta or numerous other things, we need the stovetop. If we're preparing food for 3 (or even 2) we need the stovetop. And certainly if we have guests, we need the oven and stovetop. My wife makes fresh bread somewhat regularly. Can't do that in the toaster oven. Or bake cookies. Or roast vegetables.

What do you eat that doesn't require the stovetop or oven?

Soups and stir fry's, muffins, eggs/breakfast, pancakes, steaks, roasted whole chicken, just about everything, the wok serves the purpose of soup, stir fry, deep frying, steaming. I would open the oven to make cake, cookies or pizza, frozen pizza hours in the toaster oven

[TexasHusker]

As expensive as microwaves are these days, I would turn over every rock to extend the life of your new one. Start using your traditional oven more, and if you need something like coffee warmed up, put it in a pan on your stove. A toaster oven can be a good alternative too, depending on the application.

My air conditioner is likely on its last leg, so I am opening the refrigerator more often now, so as to help the AC out a bit. So far so good.

[rennigade]

$100 for an appliance that last 10 years...you throw it out and get a new one.

If there ever comes a day where I have to worry about spending $10/year for an appliance...im going to stick my .357 magnum revolver in my mouth.

[~bs]

you guys are too funny. lol

$100 for an appliance that last 10 years...you throw it out and get a new one.

If there ever comes a day where I have to worry about spending $10/year for an appliance...im going to stick my .357 magnum revolver in my mouth.

isn't that wasteful, shouldn't you figure in the cost of the bullet? won't jumping out your apartment window be cheaper?

[scfr]

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[disneysteve]

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Texas and rennigade were posting sarcasm, obviously.

That said, you never did mention how much the microwave would be. A quick search shows lots of over the range microwaves in the $200 range with higher end ones costing more, of course. So if you are talking about a $400 or $500 appliance, does that change the answer to the original question? Personally, I'd still say no. The reason we buy something is to use it, not to find ways not to use it, but your answer may vary. Still, even at $500, you're talking about maybe $50/year in acquisition cost which is pretty nominal.

[97guns]

Today's lunch, noodle soup utilizing both the electric wok and skillet

[frugalninja]

There are plenty of microwaves less than $100 (lots in the $50-$75 range). Personally, I don't think it's worth buying an electric kettle just to try to extend the life of something you can get for $50 that will (most likely) last years anyways ($50/8 years = $6.25/year). Also, using a kettle is no guarantee the microwave will last longer, after all, the kettle may stop working before the microwave does.

[scfr]

Anyone who thinks it's ridiculous to think about the costs of things, or feels $50 per year is insignificant, might be well-advised to stay far away from a sub-forum titled

Frugal Questions and Answers Frugal ideas and questions. The place to learn how to get those costs down.

Anyway, the horse has probably left the barn. The ridiculously expensive 36-inch OTR microwave that came with the house has already died. Wish I'd thought about buying an electric kettle when we first moved in here; it might have given us a couple extra years from the beast!

Currently thinking about replacing the over-priced behemoth with a convection microwave. Those are not cheap, but the advantage is that it could be used in place of the oven, which will help the house cool and save on A/C costs (most definitely not insignificant in Texas). Since we are a household of 2, a convection microwave is big enough for our cooking needs.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I hate losing counter space. I have over stove range right now it's okay. I prefer a regular hood and still have build in microwave. Anyway I'm a pot on stove boiler of water.

[GrimJack]

I finally broke down and bought a microwave in 1994 from Costco - I still have but I now use it to melt glass (special kiln). I really need to buy a small one to cook food in b/c there is no way to clean the inside of it now (glass melts at 1750 F) but I am a tight-wad.

Darn, I just did the math - I have had that thing for over 20 years and have been nuking glass for a couple years now. What a workhorse!!